"I had to train for six to eight hours each day and swam about 15,000 to 20,000 metres daily. With this regimen, I would swim at least 5,000 kilometres a year. This is equivalent to four times the distance between Shanghai and Beijing."

On 22 April, Ms Zhuang Yong, China's first Olympic champion in swimming, shared her remarkable experiences at the Planet Leadership Series event at YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang. Her description of her rigorous training astonished the more than 300 attendees in the audience.

People familiar with China's swimming scene know the name Zhuang Yong. At the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, she won the Silver Medal in the women's 100-metre freestyle event—China’s first Olympic medal in swimming. Zhuang Yong triumphed at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, winning the Gold Medal in the same event and becoming China's first Olympic champion in swimming.

When Zhuang Yong stood on the stage at the Planet Leadership Series and told her story to YCYW teachers, students, parents, and swimming enthusiasts. she had already transcended her role as a trailblazer in Chinese swimming. She had also achieved a magnificent transformation as an MC, investor, and entrepreneur.